Running your own business means no one withholds your taxes for you. Here's how much Colorado small business owners should set aside, what federal, state, and local taxes it needs to cover, and a simple system to make sure the money is there.

Once December 31 passes, most of the decisions that shape your tax bill are already made. Here's what small business owners should review before year-end, from equipment purchases and retirement contributions to S corp payroll and January deadlines.

Paying yourself through an S corporation can save thousands in payroll tax, but only if your salary holds up. Learn how salary and distributions are taxed, what the IRS considers reasonable compensation, and how to set a number you can defend

Most S-corp owners couldn't tell you their basis if you asked — and it's not because they're careless. Basis never shows up on a bank statement, a P&L, or in QuickBooks. It only surfaces once a year, buried in the tax return, which means the first sign of trouble is often a capital gain nobody saw coming. This post walks through why basis is so easy to lose track of, two everyday situations that quietly drain it (a line of credit distribution, personal expenses paid from the business account), and what actually happens once it runs out.

We reviewed a full year of books across our bookkeeping clients. The problems weren't dramatic; they were quiet patterns that showed up again and again, in businesses that had nothing else in common. Here's what we found.

Filed an extension in April? October 15 is your final deadline to file, no exceptions for most filers. Here's what happens if you miss it, and what to do if you're still not ready.

If you paid a contractor $600 or more this year, you likely owe them a 1099-NEC by January 31. Here's what to collect now, while they're still easy to reach, so January isn't a scramble

Your Q3 estimated tax payment is due September 15. Here's how to calculate the right amount and avoid an underpayment penalty.

SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k)? One has an earlier deadline than most people realize. Here's how to pick the right plan before it's too late to open one.

A mid-year review takes 30 minutes and can save you thousands. Here are the seven numbers every business owner should check before Q3 estimated taxes are due

Waiting until December to clean up your books means rushing your tax prep. Here's why August is the smarter time, and the four things to fix first.

Tax returns report what already happened. Here's why a good accountant should be talking to you well before that — not just at filing time

Whether it's a vehicle, a copier, or heavy equipment, the lease-vs-buy decision comes down to cash flow, how long you'll actually use the asset, and how you want the tax deduction to land. Here's how to think through the tradeoff — plus a middle option that often gets overlooked.

The real cost of DIY bookkeeping isn't the hours it takes — it's the decisions made on numbers you can't fully trust. Here are the clearest signs it's time to hand your books off, and how to weigh the cost of a bookkeeper against what bad data is already costing you

If you own an S-corp, the IRS requires a reasonable salary before you take any profits as distributions — but there's no fixed formula for what 'reasonable' means. Here's what the IRS actually looks at when evaluating your compensation, the common mistake that puts owners at risk of reclassification, and how to set a number you can defend if asked.

Shareholder basis determines how much of an S-corp loss you can actually deduct on your personal return — and whether your distributions are tax-free or taxed as capital gains. Here's how basis is tracked, why it changes every year, and the common mixup between stock basis and debt basis that trips owners up.